Firearm Having Central Power Source and Integrated Data Bus to both Power and Control Multiple Accessories

ABSTRACT

There is disclosed an automatic or semiautomatic firearm having one or a plurality of parallel rail attachments for weapon attachments (accessories) with a central power source capable of powering the accessory devices electrically connects through a series of parallel rails circumferentially surrounding a barrel of the firearm. More specifically, there is disclosed a central power source to power up one or a plurality of rail accessories that provides power to each rail accessory through, preferably, a copper or brass strip located on each rail element. In addition, there is disclosed a method for transmitting information among and between weapon attachments using the rails as an antenna and radio frequency transmission of digital or analog signals to receiver units in each attachment of within a central bus.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This patent application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application 61/102,703 filed 3 Oct. 2008.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure provides a firearm having one or a plurality of rails for mounting weapon attachments (accessories), said rails having a central power source capable of powering the accessory devices that electrically connects through a series of parallel rails circumferentially surrounding a barrel or otherwise attached to a firearm. More specifically, the present disclosure provides a central power source that provides electric power to one or a plurality of rail accessories and that provides electric power to each rail-mounted accessory through one or a plurality of conducting strips located on each rail element. In addition, the present disclosure provides a method for transmitting information among and between rail-mounted weapon attachments using the rails as a data bus or as an antenna. Digital or analog signals can be transmitted and received by and between attachments mounted to the rails by means of the rails.

BACKGROUND

Various accessory devices are often used together with firearms, particularly, automatic or semiautomatic firearms. Such accessories often utilize electric power and generally need DC electric power in the 3 volt or 6 volt range and include, for example, flashlights, laser target designators, laser optical scopes and launchers of ordinance. Each such accessory typically comes with its own independent electric power source, often primary or secondary batteries. These batteries may or may not need changing or recharging during a specific mission.

Firearms, such as carbines of the “M” series or even AK47 type weapons, have a central barrel with the ability to integrate accessory mounting rails circumferentially surrounding the barrel and barrel housing element. Additional opportunities exist for placing rails on other places on the firearm. However, each accessory is independent and operates independently of others due to a lack of electrical communication by and between the accessories that are mounted to the one or a plurality of accessory-mounting rails. Therefore, there is a need to be able to centrally control and provide electric power to accessories rather than having to operate each accessory independently.

Therefore, there is a need in the field of firearms to be able to centralize the electric power needs of one or a plurality of accessories through a common “hot” rail system that transmits power to the accessories through its attachment to the firearm through a mounting rail.

Various means of communication have been developed between trains using the train tracks to transmit radio frequencies (U.S. Pat. No. 6,830,224, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein). The conducting strips in the present invention can serve a similar purpose allowing accessories mounted to the rails to transmit and receive information by and between each accessory. However, many issues of significant distances and large masses of metal exist for railroads that do not exist in the much smaller environment of firearms and weapons systems carried by individuals. Therefore, there is a need in the art to coordinate the performance of, and transmit information between, multiple accessories in firearms and weapons systems. The present disclosure was made to also address this issue.

SUMMARY

The present disclosure provides a firearm having a one or a plurality of mounting fixtures, preferably circumferentially surrounding a barrel, wherein each mounting fixture comprises one or a plurality of common electric conductors, and wherein each common conductor is electrically connected to a power source, wherein the power source is AC or DC. Preferably, the common conductors comprise a copper or brass strip of metal in electrical contact with a power source. More preferably, the power source is a portable device that produces voltage or current power. More preferably, the power source is selected from the group consisting of a battery, a Lithium ion rechargeable battery, a fuel cell, a grid power transformed, and combinations thereof. Preferably, the power source is located on a mounting fixture as an accessory device, within an ammo clip, within the stock of the firearm or attached to another location surrounding the barrel of the firearm. Preferably, two or more common conductors are located on opposite sides of the mounting fixture or two or more common conductors are located on the same side of a mounting fixture. Preferably, the power source provides voltage or current that is either direct or alternating. More preferably, the power source provides voltage output from about 2 volts to about 12 volts. Preferably, the common conductors further carry RF (radio frequency) signals to communicate between the accessories. Preferably, the common conductors are a data transmission means that allow accessories in contact with the common conductors to transmit and/or receive analog and/or digital signals from and to other accessories in contact with the common conductors. Alternatively, the accessory mounting rail may incorporate a data transmission means that is separate from the common conductors that will allow accessories mounted to the rail to transmit and/or receive data from each other. Such a separate means may be, for example, a fiber optic bus, a two wire Ethernet bus, a serial communications bus and other means that will be evident to one skilled in the art. Alternatively, the data transmission means may incorporate both the common conductors and one or a plurality of separate data transmission means. The accessories may or may not need to be attached to the mounting fixtures as a source of power. Preferably, the common conductors are coated with a silicon lubricant so that the conductors will not short if the firearm is carried through water.

The present disclosure further provides a firearm or weapons system having a plurality of fixtures, comprising

(a) one or a plurality of mounting fixtures circumferentially surrounding a barrel or otherwise attached to the body of a firearm or weapons system, wherein each mounting fixture comprises one or a plurality of common conductors, and wherein each common conductor is electrically connected to a power source; and

(b) a radio frequency (RF) antenna embedded within the plurality of common conductors, wherein each RF antenna is capable of transmitting or picking up radio frequency signals; or

(c) a data transmission means that allows accessories in contact with the data transmission means to transmit and/or receive data from other accessories in contact with the data transmission means.

Preferably, the common conductors comprise a copper or brass strip of metal in electrical contact with a power source. More preferably, the power source is a portable device that produces voltage or current power. More preferably, the power source is selected from the group consisting of a battery, a Lithium ion rechargeable battery, a fuel cell, a grid power transformed, and combinations thereof. Preferably, the power source is located on a mounting fixture as an accessory device, within an ammo clip, within the stock of the firearm or attached to another location surrounding the barrel of the firearm. Preferably, two or more common conductors are located on opposite sides of the mounting fixture or two or more common conductors are located on the same side of a mounting fixture. Preferably, the power source provides voltage or current that is either direct or alternating. More preferably, the power source provides voltage output from about 2 volts to about 12 volts.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 (top) shows a side view of part of the barrel of a firearm showing the rails (“mounting fixture”) mounted thereon. More specifically, the top view of FIG. 1 shows a common conductor strip (brass or copper) mounted within the mounting fixture (rails) and the outline of possible accessories (two) attached to the mounting fixture and in electronic connection to the central power supply, in this side view located with a clip of ammo. The lower view of FIG. 1 shows the central power supply is provided in the form of an accessory.

FIG. 2 shows a side view of a mounting fixture having two common current or electrical conductors (shown with a plus or minus sign). More specifically, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, on the left side is shown three common conductors and on the right side, two common conductors.

FIG. 3 top panel shows two conductors are affixed to a mechanical mounting fixture, also known as a “Piccatiny rail.” The left top panel is an end view of a rail having two common conductors, preferably in the form of copper or brass strips. The top right panel shows a more detailed view of a common conductor with an insulating layer. FIG. 3 bottom panel left side, the common conductors are on opposite sides of the mounting fixture and consist of copper or brass strips adhering to an insulating layer or a mounting fixture made from an insulating material. In the bottom panel right side, an end view is shown wherein the common conductors are shown on the same side as the mounting fixture.

FIG. 4 shows external views of the electrical connections made as between a power source and the common conductors. More specifically, the left panel shows internal means and an end view of a power supply (labeled) to common conductors located on opposite sides of a mounting fixture (shown in an end view). The right panel of FIG. 4 shows another end view of the mounting fixture with common conductors on either side with a power supply located above the fixture.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The power supply may be a voltage supply or a current supply provided by batteries (such as Li ion batteries that are rechargeable), a fuel cell or an external power source. The power can be AC (alternating current), DC (direct current) or a mixture of both. The power supply can be of a fixed polarity or different polarities that can be switched. With regard to FIG. 1, the top view shows a side view of part of the barrel of a firearm showing the rails (“mounting fixture”) mounted thereon. More specifically, the top view of FIG. 1 shows a common conductor (brass or copper strip) mounted within the mounting fixture (rails) and the outline of possible accessories (two) attached to the mounting fixture and in electronic connection to the central power supply, in this side view located with a clip of ammo. The lower view of FIG. 1 shows much like the top panel except the central power supply is provided in the form of an accessory. In this way, power supplies can be attached and removed by sliding on and off on a rail or mounting fixture attachment.

FIG. 2 also shows a side view of a mounting fixture having two common current or electrical conductors (shown with a plus or minus sign). More specifically, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, on the left side is shown three common conductors and on the right side, two common conductors.

The common conductors (preferably comprising copper or brass strips on a surface of a rail of mounting fixture) provide electric power for accessories mounted to a fixture for mechanically attaching to a firearm, weapon or other device having or having the potential for multiple accessories attached thereto and utilizing a central power source.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 3 top panel, two conductors are affixed to a mechanical mounting fixture, also known as a “Piccatiny rail.” The left top panel is an end view of a rail having two common conductors, preferably in the form of copper or brass strips. The top right panel shows a more detailed view of a common conductor with an insulating layer. It should be noted that a common conductor is isolated from a mounting fixture by an insulating layer. Alternatively, the mounting fixture may be made from and insulating material such as carbon fiber reinforced polymer or other hard plastic.

In FIG. 3 bottom panel left side, the common conductors are on opposite sides of the mounting fixture and consist of copper or brass strips adhering to an insulating layer or a mounting fixture made from an insulating material. In the bottom panel right side, an end view is shown wherein the common conductors are shown on the same side as the mounting fixture.

With regard to FIG. 4, external views show the electrical connections made as between a power source and the common conductors. More specifically, the left panel shows internal means and an end view of a power supply (labeled) to common conductors located on opposite sides of a mounting fixture (shown in an end view). The right panel of FIG. 4 shows another end view of the mounting fixture with common conductors on either side with a power supply located above the fixture. 

1. A firearm comprising one or a plurality of mounting fixtures circumferentially surrounding a barrel, wherein each mounting fixture comprises one or a plurality of common conductors, and wherein each common conductor is electrically connected to a power source.
 2. The firearm of claim 1 wherein the common conductors comprise a copper or brass strip of metal in electrical contact with a power source.
 3. The firearm of claim 2 wherein the power source is a portable device that produces voltage or current power.
 4. The firearm of claim 1 wherein the power source is selected from the group consisting of a battery, a Lithium ion rechargeable battery, a fuel cell, a grid power transformed, and combinations thereof.
 5. The firearm of claim 1 wherein the power source is located on a mounting fixture as an accessory device, within an ammo clip, within the stock of the firearm or attached to another location surrounding the barrel of the firearm.
 6. The firearm of claim 1 wherein the common conductors are a data transmission means that allow accessories in contact with the common conductors to transmit or receive analog or digital signals from and to other accessories in contact with the common conductors.
 7. The firearm of claim 1 wherein the common conductors further carry RF (radio frequency) signals to communicate between the accessories.
 8. The firearm of claim 1 wherein two or more common conductors are located on opposite sides of the mounting fixture or two or more common conductors are located on the same side of a mounting fixture.
 9. The firearm of claim 1 wherein the power source provides voltage or current that is either direct or alternating.
 10. The firearm of claim 9 wherein the power source provides voltage output from about 2 volts to about 12 volts.
 11. The firearm of claim 1 wherein the accessory mounting rail further comprises a data transmission means that is separate from the common conductors and capable of allowing accessories mounted to the rail to transmit or receive data from each other or both.
 12. The firearm of claim 11 wherein the data transmission means further comprises both the common conductors and one or a plurality of separate data transmission means, wherein the accessories may or may not be attached to the mounting fixtures as a source of power.
 13. A firearm or small weapons system having a plurality of fixtures, comprising (a) one or a plurality of mounting fixtures circumferentially surrounding a barrel, wherein each mounting fixture comprises one or a plurality of common conductors, and wherein each common conductor is electrically connected to a power source; and (b) a radio frequency (RF) antenna embedded within the plurality of common conductors, wherein each RF antenna is capable of transmitting or picking up radio frequency signals.
 14. The firearm or small weapons system having a plurality of fixtures of claim 13, wherein the common conductors comprise a copper or brass strip of metal in electrical contact with a power source.
 15. The firearm or small weapons system having a plurality of fixtures of claim 14, wherein the power source is a portable device that produces voltage or current power.
 16. The firearm or small weapons system having a plurality of fixtures of claim 13, wherein the power source is selected from the group consisting of a battery, a Lithium ion rechargeable battery, a fuel cell, a grid power transformed, and combinations thereof.
 17. The firearm or small weapons system having a plurality of fixtures of claim 13, wherein the power source is located on a mounting fixture as an accessory device, within an ammo clip, within the stock of the firearm or attached to another location surrounding the barrel of the firearm.
 18. The firearm or small weapons system having a plurality of fixtures of claim 13, wherein two or more common conductors are located on opposite sides of the mounting fixture or two or more common conductors are located on the same side of a mounting fixture.
 19. The firearm or small weapons system having a plurality of fixtures of claim 13, wherein the power source provides voltage or current that is either direct or alternating.
 20. The firearm or small weapons system having a plurality of fixtures of claim 13, wherein the power source provides voltage output from about 2 volts to about 12 volts. 